Earthing refers to connecting the body to the earth’s natural electric charge, stabilizing the body’s physiology at the deepest level.

Earthing refers to connecting the body to the earth’s natural electric charge, stabilizing the body’s physiology at the deepest level. Studies show that it reduces inflammation, pain, stress, improves blood flow, energy, sleep and creates greater wellbeing. Earthing is as simple as routinely walking barefoot outside or by using inexpensive grounding equipment while sleeping and sitting; and restores the electric connection with the earth. Studies have reported significant physiological improvements when the body is grounded vs. non-grounded. The main components of preventative medicine include, nutrition, exercise, stress management and relationships, together with all this we need earthing/grounding.

There are 2 basic ways of earthing. Firstly by being indoors, which involves inexpensive earthing apparatuses or systems such as (conductive mats, pads and patches). These can be used while sitting or sleeping and secondly earthing can be used in its most natural form, by spending time barefoot outdoors in contact with natural conductive surfaces like sand, grass, gravel, stone etc.  

Our lost connection to the Earth

Our planet earth for many years has utilized grounding as a source of stability and safety in the electrical industry, which is where the term earthing and grounding came from.

All these large power systems that you see such as power station, large grids, buildings, factories and appliances are powered by electricity which need to be connected to the earth for stability and safety.

Lost connectivity with the earth may contribute to electrical imbalances, built up static electricity (positive charge) and unfortunately an electron deficiency in the human body, therefore leading to vulnerability to disorders, diseases and abnormalities.  

How is this all possible? Well we all know that the earth is affected continuously by lightning strikes (high electrical voltage) solar radiation and other atmospheric dynamics. Not so well known is that these occurrences supply the earth continuously renewed subatomic particles called free electrons giving the earth a natural negative electric charge. Research has shown that this large amount of free electrons has an important role in nurturing both animals and plant kingdoms.

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Natural anti-inflammatory

One of the most powerful effects of earthing with over 20 years of studies and research and feedback from many individuals around the world is the reduction and elimination of chronic inflammation. The hypothesis for this effect is that free radicals also known as (reactive oxygen species, ROS) are positively charged molecules that raid electrons from healthy tissue, therefore causing damage. Free radicals are produced during normal biochemistry such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is the body’s molecule of energy. Billions of free radicals are produced by the body each day and earthing allows large numbers of electrons to enter the body so that it can neutralize free radicals and decrease damage to healthy cells. The transportation of electrons to the site of inflammation is through the nervous, meridian and circulatory systems.

The absorption of free electrons by the body produces an effective anti-inflammatory reinforcement for the immune system. Studies show that earthing rapidly reverses both acute and chronic inflammation.

Research has also shown that earthing decreases delayed onset muscular soreness (DOMS)and decreased inflammation. Delayed onset of muscular soreness is accompanied with pain, tenderness and stiffness felt after an intense exercise workout. The pain occurs in the muscle due to temporary damage (micro trauma) to muscle tissue/fibres. Earthing has significantly decreased the intensity and duration of delayed onset muscular soreness and inflammation.

Better blood flow

Another major documented benefit of earthing is better blood flow. In a 2013 study, the zeta potential of 10 healthy subjects increased by an average of about 270% within two hours of earthing. Zeta potential relates a charge of the cell which repulses other cells causing less clumping and therefore lower viscosity of blood. The increase measurement in this study implies a natural blood thinning effect. This implies earthing may reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.

Earthing has also shown to be effective in wound healing. Illustration below shows an eighty-four-year-old woman, who incurred a wound injury through wearing poorly fitted boots. In that time, a blister developed and subsequently became a resistant open wound. Vascular imaging revealed poor circulation in her legs. Some of her signs and symptoms were a mild limp and pain surrounding the wound.

The patient was grounded for 30 min daily for two weeks with an electrode patch in the clinic while seated comfortably. After the first session, she reported a noticeable decrease in pain. After one week, she said the pain had reduced by about 80% and she was no longer limping. At the end of two weeks, she said she was completely pain free.

Other major benefits of Earthing are stress reduction and mood improvement, through a normalizing effect on the autonomic nervous system (as measured by improved heart rate variability and vagal tone)and the stress hormone cortisol.

Earthing is really a simple tool which can aid in one’s well-being. It requires no effort at all. People can ground them selves conveniently while sitting or sleeping. The rapid results shown can motivate patients to take on other lifestyle recommendations such as exercise, meditation, yoga, and even dietary changes.

In a nutshell, earthing restores our primordial electric connection to the earth which is lost because of the new age lifestyle. Earthing corrects our electron deficiencies which in turn has a profound effect on the body.

                                                   
Earthing can be used to prevent many conditions such as cardiovascular, respiratory, neurodegenerative, auto-immune conditions, type 2 diabetes and cancer to name a few. Start walking barefoot again, feel the ground with your feet and experience a life full of vitality and connection. It doesn’t cost you anything so why not.

References:

OberCA, Sinatra ST, Zucker M. Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever? 2nd. Laguna Beach: Basic Health Publications; 2014.

Motoyama H. Measurements of Ki energy: Diagnoses and Treatments. Tokyo:Human Science Press; 1997.

J. Oschman, G. Chevalier, R. Brown The effects of grounding(Earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and preventionand treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. J Inflamm Res, 8 (2015), pp. 83-96

G. Chevalier The effect of grounding the human body on mood Psychol Rep, 116 (2) (2015),pp. 534-54

Chan, M. (2011) The worldwide rise of chronic non-communicable diseases: a slow-motion catastrophe. Speech of the Director General of the World Health Organization.

E. Williams, S. Heckman The local diurnal variation of cloud electrification and the global diurnal variation of negative charge on the Earth J Geophys Res, 98 (D3) (1993),pp. 5221-5234

J. Oschman, G. Chevalier, A. Ober Biophysics of Earthing (grounding) the human body P.J. Rosch (Ed.), Bioelectromagnetic and Subtle Energy Medicine (2nd ed), CRC Press, New York (2015),pp. 427-450

G. Chevalier, S.T. Sinatra, J.L. Oschman, R.M. Delany Earthing (grounding) the human body reduces blood viscosity—a major factor in cardiovascular disease J Altern Complement Med, 19 (2) (2013), pp. 102-110

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